Connecticut Colonial Records: Difference between revisions

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== History ==

The Dutch were the first to establish a settlement in Connecticut at Hartford (Suckiaug) in 1633. British Massachusetts settlers began migrating into Connecticut in the 1630s. Settlers from Watertown, MA moved to Wethersfield (Pyquag) in 1634. Settlers from Plymouth and Dorchester, MA moved into Windsor (Mattaneaug) in 1635. In 1635, Puritans from Newtown, Cambridge, England emigrated to Hartford. In 1646, settlers independently founded New London (Nameaug).

In 1662, an English Royal charter established Connecticut as a separate colony from Massachusetts and the New Haven Colony was absorbed into Connecticut. Long Island towns became part of New York.<ref>Christina K. Schaefer, ''Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere'' (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 201. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39622039 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|822639|item|disp=FHL book 929.11812 D26 1998}}</ref>

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<ref>Christina K. Schaefer, ''Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere'' (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 183, 192. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39622039 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|822639|item|disp=FHL book 929.11812 D26 1998}}</ref>

=== Statewide Records and Resources ===

* '''General Court Records (1636-1818)''': Known as the General Assembly, the highest state court during the colonial era with civil and criminal jurisdiction. Records from these courts have been transcribed from ''The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut''.

* '''County Courts of Quarter Courts (1666-1855)''': This court handled civil, criminal, chancery, and divorce proceedings.

* '''Town courts (1630s-)''': Justice of the Peace courts handled cases without a town court.<ref>Christina K. Schaefer, ''Genealogical encyclopedia of the colonial Americas : a complete digest of the records of all the countries of the Western Hemisphere'' (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1998), 201-202. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39622039 WorldCat (Other Libraries)]; {{FHL|822639|item|disp=FHL book 929.11812 D26 1998}}</ref><br>

'''[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/77969?availability=Family%20History%20Library5 The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776, Transcribed and Published in Accordance with a Resolution of the General Assembly]'''. 15 Vols. (Hartford: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co., 1850-90, fiche 6051120). This series contains the following:

* Vol. 1 General and Particular courts, 1636-49; General Court, 1650-65; wills and inventories, 1640-49; code of laws, General Court, 1650

* '''Windham County''' (1726) Windham County Superior Court. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/599011?availability=Family%20History%20Library Divorce papers, 1726-1907].

* [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/615996?availability=Family%20History%20Library ''Connecticut Divorces: Superior Court Records for the Counties of New London, Tolland, and Windham, 1719-1910''] by Grace Louise Knox and Barbara B. Ferris. (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1987).

*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/269096?availability=Family%20History%20Library ''History of the Colony of New Haven: To Its Absorption into Connecticut; With Supplementary History and Personnel of the Towns of Branford, Guilford, Milford, Stratford, Norwalk, Southold, Etc.''] by Edward E. Atwater. (Meridian, CT: Journal Publishing Co., 1902, film 0833384).

== References ==

[[Category:Connecticut,_United_States]]